Iraq's Erbil and Sulaimaniya airports suspend Iranian flights

Iraq's Erbil and Sulaimaniya airports suspend Iranian flights

Iraq's Erbil and Sulaimaniya airports suspended Iranian flights starting on Friday, after other Iraqi airports took the same step earlier in the week, state media reported.

Hours earlier, Iraq’s state news agency had also reported the suspension of Iranian flights at Najaf International Airport over threats of US sanctions.

The move means flights to and from Iran have been suspended at all four Iraqi airports where Iranian airlines were operating – Baghdad, Najaf, Erbil and Sulaimaniya – two sources told Reuters.

The US had announced it would impose sanctions on any global companies doing business with Iranian airlines after 23 September, with the aim of grounding Iran's entire civilian fleet worldwide.